Japanese haiku master Matsuo Basho (pen name of Mastuo Munefusa) was born in 1644, near Ueno in Iga province. He is the first great poet in the history of haikai (and/or hokku/ haiku). His haikus are vivid that intensify humor or gloominess, joy or confusion with ironic nature.
His father was a samurai- but child Basho became a servant to Todo Yoshitada, who shared with Basho a love for haikai no renga, a form of mutual poetry composition with a verse in 5-7-5 mora format, which was named hokku. Basho gave himself pen name as Sobo.
Basho’s first poem was published in 1662 and two of his hokkus were printed in a collection in 1664. In 1665, Basho and Yoshitada composed a 100-verse renku with some associates. Yoshitada died in 1666 and Basho left his home. Then he began writing poetry and moved to Edo (now Tokyo) where he gained a reputation as a great poet and critic. But he became dissatisfied and lonely. Therefore, he began to practice Zen Meditation.
In 1667, in a haikai anthology, Basho’s 31-verses were published. During 1669-1672, his work was included in another three collections. However, his first book ‘The Seashell Game’ (Kai Oi) was published in 1672. Using the pseudonym Tosei in1675, Basho composed a linked-verse sequence with Nishiyama Soin. Next 4 years he was engaged in building waterworks to earn a living. In 1680, he established himself in a small cottage at Fukagawa in Edo, thus beginning his life as a hermit of poetry.
In 1681, one follower presented Basho a banana plant (Basho-an), which was planted in his garden. His pen name Tosei thus changed to Basho. During 1682, his hut burned down and he retired to Kai Province. In 1683, his mother died and he traveled to Yamura to stay with a friend. In winter, his disciples gave him a second hut in Edo, but his spirits did not improve. After that, in 1685, Basho returned to Edo and writes more hokku.
Basho with his student Kawai Sora left Edo in 1689 on a journey to the Northern Provinces of Honshu. They walked to the western side of the island, touring Kisakata and began hiking back at a leisurely pace along the coastline. After 150-day journey of 2,400 km, he returned to Edo and lived in his third Basho hut, again provided by his disciples.
In 1693, Basho shut the gate to his Basho hut and refused to see anybody for a month. In 1694, he left Edo and spending time in Ueno and Kyoto before his arrival in Osaka. He became sick with a stomach illness and died peacefully on November 28, surrounded by his disciples at Osaka. His last poem recorded during his final illness, is a poem of parting:
tabi ni yande / yume wa kareno wo / kake meguru
falling sick on a journey/my dream goes wandering/over a field of dried grass
Notable publications of Matsuo Basho are: Kai Oi (The Seashell Game, 1672), Minashiguri (A Shriveled Chestnut, 1683), Nozarashi Kiko (Record of a Weather-Exposed Skeleton, 1684), Fuyu no Hi (Winter Days, 1684), Haru no Hi (Spring Days, 1686), Kashima Kiko (A Visit to Kashima Shrine, 1687), Oi no Kobumi, or Utatsu Kiko (Record of a Travel-Worn Satchel, 1688), Sarashina Kiko (A Visit to Sarashina Village, 688), Arano (Wasteland, 1689), Hisago (The Gourd, 1690), Sarumino (The Monkey’s Raincoat, 1691), Saga Nikki (Saga Diary, 1691), Basho no Utsusu Kotoba (On Transplanting the Banana Tree, 1691), Heikan no Setsu (On Seclusion, 1692), Sumidawara (A Sack of Charcoal, 1694), Betsuzashiki (The Detached Room, 1694), Oku no Hosomichi (Narrow Road to the Interior, 1694) and Zoku Sarumino (The Monkey’s Raincoat, Continued, 1698).